'We Wanted To Show Children Real Life': Sesame Street's Sonia Manzano

Life Kit: Parenting

NPR

Kids & Family

4.6 • 640 Ratings

🗓️ 31 May 2019

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Actress Sonia Manzano is beloved by millions as Maria on Sesame Street. Her character on TV mirrored many of Manzano's real-life milestones, like marriage and motherhood (Elmo served as ring bearer for Maria's wedding on the show). She also wrote for Sesame Street in later years, and helped the show address diversity issues. In this special episode, Manzano reflects on her 44 seasons on Sesame Street, what she thinks was the show's most poignant moment — and which Muppet was secretly her favorite.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for NPR and the following message comes from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
0:05.4	RWJF is a national philanthropy, working toward a future where health is no longer a privilege but a right.
0:12.1	Learn more at RWJF.org.
0:15.4	This is a special?
0:16.9	Extra special.
0:18.7	Episode of Life Kid for Parenting with Sesame Workshop.
0:22.0	Yeah, we're going to talk with one of the most iconic humans from Sesame Street.
0:27.4	Hi, welcome to Sesame Street. I just fixed Mrs. Guzman's toaster, and we're just checking to make sure that it works.
0:34.9	Now, let's see, make sure it's plugged in and...
0:38.3	Oh, there.
0:39.5	It's working.
0:41.1	Sony Manzano played Maria on Sesame Street for 44 seasons.
0:45.2	That's not just a career.
0:46.3	It's a lifetime.
0:47.2	Do you, Maria, take Louise to be your husband in good times and bad, to love him and care for him always.
0:59.2	I do.
1:00.6	I now pronounce you husband and wife.
1:04.5	Yay!
1:06.1	Little baby, I want you to meet all our friends.
1:11.6	Hi. Hi.
1:12.9	Hi, little, gee, what's your name?
1:17.4	Gabriela.
	...

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